Water treatment apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 21, 1944. L. a. DANIELS WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS Original Filed April 26, 1957 ll Illllllllll m3 M T Z "w Nov. 21, IQ -M L. e. DANIELS WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS Original Filed April 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 21, 1944. 1.. e. DANIELS 2,363,167

WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS Original Filed April 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 55 4.2 0029% g, j QM Nov. 21, 1944. DANlELS WATER TREATMENT APPARA'I'FS Original Filed April 26, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 showing diagrammatically the connection and Patented Nov. 21, 1944 WATER TREATMENT. APPARATUS Lee G.Daniels, Rockford, 111. Original application April 26, 1937, Serial No.

. 138,948. Divided and this application February I s, 194 Serial No. 377,953 b 9Claims. (omit-24) This invention relates to water treatment apparatus and more particularly to means for controlling the same to perform the steps of reconditioning or regeneration. I

An important object of, the invention is the provision of a water treatment apparatus having improved meansfor controlling the flow of liquid .therethrough, including improved means for con- .trolling the steps of reconditioning the device, such as regenerating a zeolite water softener.

A further object of the invention is theprovi sion of a water treatment device having auni tary multiple port valve, and improvedmeans for driving the same through the steps of a reconditioning cycle including a novel form of metercontrol mechanism.

Other obj ects and advantages will be apparent tween the rotor and body members at each of the ports comprising a sleeve 43, in this instance threaded into the port and projecting above the face of the body member. Encircling the sleeve 43 is a relatively thick cylinder of rubber or sirnilar resilient material I12 having a substantially plane end surface; The rubber cylinder or gasket is in turn encircled by a retaining member 45, one end of which seats against the face of the body. member, the gasket being confined between the sleeve 43 and the retaining member 45 to prevent lateral distortion thereof under the seating pressure. The rotor 32 is provided with annular ribsjaroun d the ports as shown at I13. having arcuate lower edges [14 arranged to press into and seal againstthe outer end of the cylin-' l Y der gaskets I12 and be depressed therein as shown from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a section through a motor valve embodying my invention;

'Fig. 2 is a view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a 1 fraginentarysection showing the driving section for the Geneva movement;

Fig. 4 is a face View of the valve body member of a operated Water treatment device therewith;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the valve rotor member; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section through thebrinelevel con trol mechanism of Fig. 4; w

. Fig. 8 is an, elevation of the motor operated valve showing mechanical meansfor resetting the meter; I I Fig. 9 is an elevation of a portion of the valve in Figure 1 under the pressure applied to the rotor by therotor stem. The ports and and the ports 38 and 4|. are interconnected within the body of thevalveas shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. b b .The stem plate or rotor member 32 hasi a cen 'tral port 46 for communication between thelpoift:

39 and the valve chamber formed by the cover 33.

The stem plate alsohas aport4'I for registration with certain of the stator ports, ports 48 and 49 control mechanism showing electrical means for resetting the meter; 1 Fig. 10 is a section on the line IIJI0 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 11 is a'wiring diagram embodying the invention. I l b b Directing attention first to the structure of the valve per se, the numeral 3| designates the body or stator member of the valve, and the numeral 32 designates-the rotor member or plate thereof,

the numeral 33 designates the valve housing or cover, and the numeral I'II designates the stem by which the rotor or stem member of the valve 'is raised and indexed between its various positions, the valve herein shown being adapted for use with the stemin horizontal position. b

The valve body 3! has a plurality of ports designated by the numerals 35.42, respectively (Fig. 4) extending through the face of the body.

Means are provided for sealing the junction beinterconnected by a channel 5|, and ports 52 and 53 interconnected by a channel 54 (Fig.6) in which are positioned injector tubes 55 comrnunicating with the valve chamber.

The cover 33 is attached to the stator or body member by means of cap screws 55 (Fig. 8) spaced around the valve, a gasket 51 being interposed between the cover and body to prevent leakage. A casing, designated generally by the numeral H5, is carried on the end of the cover 33. throughbrackets I16, and a rotor stem IT! for lifting, turning and reseating the rotor is fixed to ther otor 32 projecting through a packing gland I18 on the cover 33 and into the casing I15, the remote end I'I9 thereof being of smaller I diameter and projecting through and beyond the casing. I15. The rotor stem IT! is externally threaded for the reception of the internally threaded hub IBI of a gear I82 carried in the casing II 5for rotation and for longitudinal movement. A nut I83 is secured on the remote end of the hub I8l and a coiled spring I84 is interposed between the casing and the nut I83. The

gear I82 is adapted to be rotated from a. pinion 185 driven by reduction gearing fromfa motor I85 carried on the cover 33 of the valve. In the position shown in Figure 1. the spring I84 is acting to exert pressure between the valve rotor and its seat formed by the resilient gaskets I12. However, upon rotation of the gear' I82 in one direction, the sleeve I8I and gear I82 will move downward on the stem until the lower face of the gear engages the casing I1I, thus releasing the pressure of the spring I84 from the rotor. Upon continued rotation of the gear, the stem will move upward in the sleeve I8I, causing the rotor to be lifted free of its seat. The motor I86 is a reversing motor of well known form, and through reversal of the motor by proper changes her in the usual manner.

in the connections of shading coils I80, as will presently bedescribed, the gear I82 may be driven in the opposite direction, whereupon the rotor will be brought into contact with its seat and, upon continued rotation the gear I82 and hub I8I will move up along the stem so as to compress the spring I84 and thus apply pre-loaded pres sure on the rotor constantly urging it against it seats.

The pinion gear I85 is of sufficient length to permit of the described axial movement of the gear I82. Through this means the rotor is lifted from its seat, rotated or indexed to its next posi tion, and returned to its seat and pre-loaded pressure applied thereto.

Reversal of thedirection of the motor I86 is accomplished through a disk I81 attached to the upper end of the valve stem and positioned to engage an end I88 of a switch lever I89, thereby shifting the lever into the dotted line position shown in Figure 1 and tilting a mercury tube I9I so as to break contact with leads I92 and make contacts with leads I93, as will appear from Fig. II. Operation of the motor I86 in a direction to seat the valve rotor to apply pressure is terminated through action of a push member I94 supported in the casing I for longitudinal movement and carrying a follower I95 urged against the face of the gear I 82 by a spring I96. Thus as the gear I 82 rises in applying pressure between the rotor and its seat, the push member I94 moves upward into contact with an end I91 of the lever I89, shifting the lever into the position shown in full lines in Figure 1 and tilting the mercury switch I9] to close contacts I92. The motor does not start, however, because the motor is de-energized by means presently to be described.

Means areprovided within the casing I15 for indexing the rotor during its movement from the unseated position to the seated position.

That is, the valve rotor is first lifted from its seat, then unlocked, then indexed or rotated tov its next position, then locked against rotation, and then reseated. This means includes a gear I98 driven from the pinion I85, the gear being carried on a shaft which also carries a pinion I99 which in turn meshes with a gear I rotatably carried on a shaft 202. Also carried on the shaft 202 is the driving member 203 of a Geneva movement. The member 203 has a cam 204 on the surface thereof adjacent the gear 20!, while the gear carries a spring pressed pin 205 adapted to bear against the surface of the member 203 so that upon rotation of the gear 20l in one direction the pin will ratchet by the cam 204, while upon rotation of the gear MI in the opposite direction the pin will abut the cam 204 and cause rotation of the member The second member 206 of the Geneva movement is fixed to the valve stem I11 and cooperates with the driving member 203 to effectuate indexing of the valve stem and rotor member through upon each rotation of the driving member 203. The drivenmember 206 has the conventional cam surfaces 201, 208, 209 and 2 arranged to cooperate with an arcuate surface 2I2 on the driving member, and has slots 2I3, 2I4,' 2 I 5 and 2I0 positioned at 90.angles adapted to cooperate with a pin 2" on the driving mem- A sprin pressed pin 2I8 is carried in the casing I15 and urged into a slot 2I9 of the driving member to prevent rotation thereof, as a result of frictional drag between the gear 20I and the Geneva movement when the gear is rotated in the ratcheting direction. The pin 2I8 is forced out of its locking slot 2I9 when pin 205 engages the flat surface of cam 204.

It will thus be seen that as the valve stem I11 is raised through rotation of the gear I82, the gear 20I will move in a direction'to ratchet over the cam 204, whereas when the direction of the motor is reversed and the valve stem is moved downward, the pin 205 will engage the cam 204 causing the valve stemand plate to be indexed through 90 during such downward movement. The parts are so arranged that indexing of the rotor occurs substantially at the start of such downward movement. A disk 22I of insulation material is positioned on the outer face of the casing I15 surrounding the stem I11 and carries contact segments presently to be described for th purpose of controlling operation of the, valve. carrier 222 adapted to carry brushes 223 and 224 in positions to engage the segments on the disk. The carrier is attached to the stem I 11 by means of a pin 225 which passes through a slot 226 in the valve stem to permit of longitudinal movement of the stem without disturbing the contacts, but to cause rotation of the brush carrier. The switch mechanism comprising the elements just described is enclosed by a'housing 221.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the Geneva movement serves to hold the valve rotor locked against rotation when it is in its normal operating position so that there will be no scoring of the gaskets by relative rotary movement of rotor and *stator. The Geneva movement maintains this relationship until thevalve rotor has been lifted clear of the stator when indexing. The indexing is performed by the Geneva movement/ Upon completion of the indexing operation the valve rotor is locked against rotation from its new position by the Geneva movement.

In Figs. 4-41, I have shown the elements of a water treatment device, in this instance a zeolite water softener, together with means for controlling thevalve to move the same through the steps of regeneration and return tosoftening. It will be understood that by obvious modifications in the construction in accordance with and carrying forth the teachings herein disclosed, the control mechanism may equally be utilized for filters and liquid distributors. In Fig. 4 the numeral 98 designates the softening tank of a conventional zeolite softener, the numeral 99' a brine tank thereof, the numeral I0l a water line leading from the valve to the top of the softener, the numeral I02 a conduit for soft Supported adjacent the disk is a brush in part the passes through a diaphragm or plate l H separatrespectively,

h in accordance with conventional practice.

Positioned in the brine tank 99 is {a brine; level control designated generally bythe numeral IM and shown in greater detail inFig. 7. This consists of a tubelii suspended in thebrine tank and serving as aguide for a float H16 carried on a rod attached to a lever lllfl ina switch chamber I29, the lever being articulated at I ll between switches H2 and H3 arranged to be actuated by cams the float reaches its lower limit. A spring H6 cooperateswith the lever lB8to counterbalance weight of the float: Therod I01 ing the switch chamber I09 from the float chamber within the tube Hi5. Actuation of the switches I I2 and H3 serves to limit the withdra'wal of brine from the brine tank and thesubsequent entry of water through the salt bed to replace the brine, withdrawn. [Positioned inth'e brine line I03 is a motor operated valve and contact mechanism indicated generally by the numeral H8 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11 and including amotor l 19 arranged through suitable gearing to drive a shaft i2l having a cam i222 adapted to. actuate the movable member 233 of a valve in the line I03 to open and close the same. The shaftlfl also carries cams I213, I25, l26 andJZl adaptedto actuate switches 28, I29, [3i and I32 in a mannerwhich will be plain from Fig. 11

Initiation of the regeneration cyclelisibrought about through a meter 228 having a dia1229 provided with a hand 23! adapte d to rotate in response to operation of the meter and to engage contacts 232, 23 3 and 234. C0I1tacts233 and 23.4

are carried on plates 2% said 236, the plates and contacts being adjustable circumferentially on. i

the dial by engaging the screws thereof in any of a plurality of screw holes Meansare provided for setting the position of thehand 23! so that the valve will be set into operation upon pas sageof a predetermined amount of water through the meter. For this purpose the hand isconnected to themeter through any of a plurality of mechanisms such as a frictional means or ratchet mechanism, and is provided with a pinion238 adapted to engage a rack 239 such that upon movement of the rack toward the ileft facing Figs. 8 to 11, the hand will be moved in a counterclockwise direction. Two means are shown for moving the rack, that in Fig. 8 being a mechanical arrangement, and that in Fig. 9 electric motor means. Referring firstto Fig; 8, the rack 239 is supported for longitudinal movement in a bearing 241 and has a roller 242 at its end adaptedfor engagement by a cam 243 carried on the valve stem ill, the arrangement of the parts being such that the cam actuates the rack prior to the arrival of the valve rotor in its first operative positioncorresponding to the back-wash on H4 and H5 on thelever insuchj manner that one of the switches will be actuated when the float reaches the upward limit of its 1 level and the other switch will be actuated when ment 2 18, establishing a new circuit through the manner upon each. seating movement of the l 5 valve, as will be apparent from Figs. 1 to 3 and 8 tuatedcontact therein,as will presently appear, and driving a cam 245 arranged to engage the roller 242 in the manner heretofore described.

. segment 24! withwhich the brush is in. engagement during the service position of the valve, the contact 232, and the hand 23L When the motor has run sufiicient tomove the brush 223 off the contact segment 241, it engages a contact segmotojr by way of thesegment 248and the ring 246. Upon energization of the motor I86, the valve rotor will be raised and lowered, inthe meantime being indexed 90 in a clockwise direction, the brush 223 simultaneously moving 90 around the disl; 221. With the softener arrange- 3 ment herein shown, the motor will not, however, stop at this position and the rotor will immediately be lifted and again indexed an additional 90. During the second movement of the brush 223, contact is made with a segment 249,. thereby closing a circuit through a motor 25l enclosed in the casing 244 by wayof the segment 249, the brush 223 and the segment 248.? Upon initial movement of themotor25l, a switch 252 isclosed by means of a cam 253 on a shaft 254; which is in turn. driven through suitablegearing from the motor 25!. The switch 252 connects the motor 25L directly to the power supply and keeps the motor running until the cam 245 has made one complete. revolution, thereby moving the rack 239 and re-setting thehand 23! to thedotted line position shown in Fig.1l. In the meantime, the brush 223 comes to rest on a contact segment 255. It will be observedthat thegears have completed the indexing of the valve stem I11 and rotor prior to the completion of the rotor seating operation, and consequently the brush 223 has moved onto the contact 255 prior to the seating ofthe valve. In order to continue operation of 3 the motor 186 until the valve/has been seated,

Iprovide a mercury switch 250 arranged to be tilted with the mercury switch l9! to supply current to the motor subsequent to the indexing V of the valve, the switch being cut off in response to the stem Hi4 reaching its uppermost position tostop themotor I86 when the valve reaches its seated position. The switch 25!! functions in this At this point water. from the source of supply flows through the stator port Wand through the softener tank in a reverse direction accomplishing a back-washingoperation. .This back-wash is terminated upon the passage of a predeterthe softened. The contacts 233 and 234 are posi-.

' tiqned so that the hand 23! will be thrown in a counterclockwise direction beyond the position thereof.

Where it is impossible or inconvenient to position the meter in such proximityto the valve mechanism that the raclrmay be actuated mechanically from the valve, I may employ the ar-.

rangement shown in Fig. 9, wherein the numeral mined amount of water by contactof the hand 23! with the contact button 234 on the face of the meter which closes the circuitthrough the valve motor Hit by wayof the hand 23l, the contact 234, the segment 255, the brush 223, and the contact ring 245, whereupon the valve will be indexed an additional 90, at the closeof which movement the brush 223 will come to rest on a segment 256. During this movement ofthe valve,

244 designates a motor casing having a cam acthe brush 223 will momentarily engage-a segment 25'I closing the circuit through the brine valve motor I is by way of the contact I29, the segment 25?, the brush 223, and the segment 248. As heretofore explained, upon initial movement of the motor H9, the cam I24 closes the switch I28, causing the motor H9 to rotate the shaft I2I through 180 and then stop. This half rotation of the shaft I2I causes the brine valve I23 to be opened so that when the valve rotor reaches its seated position, brine will be drawn from the brine tank 99 through the line I03 by the injector in a well known manner. As brine is withdrawn from the tank 99, the float IDS is lowered until the switch I I3 is closed, which action serves to terminate the injection of brine into the softener tank by energizing the brine valve motor H9 by way of the switch Isl, a segment 259, the brush 223, a segment 258, and the switch H3. This serves to close the brine valve I23. Water then flows through the softener tank from the source of supply by way of the valve chamber, tube 55, the channel 54 and port 53. This flow of water through the meter causes continued movement of the hand 23I until the hand en-' gages the contact button 233, whereupon the circuit through the motor I86 is closed by way of the hand 23!, the contact button 233, the segment 256,'the brush 223 and the ring 246, as a result of which the valve moves to the service position and the brushes 223 and 224 move to a point at which the brush 223 engages the contact segment 2M and the brush 224 engages contact segments ZEiI and 232. During this movement of thebrushes, the brush 223 engages a segment 263 energizing the brine valve motor II9 by way of the'contact I29, the segment 263, the brush 223 and the ring 246, opening the brine valve I23 in the manner heretofore described to permit a flow of water through the pipe Hi3 into the brine tank 99 to replenish the brine supply. When the level of liquid in the brine tank 99 raises the float recto a point closing the contact H4, the brine valve motor H9 is again energized by way of the contact I32, the'segment 262, the brush 226, the segment 26!, and switch I I4, whereupon the motor operates to close the brine valve I23, completing the cycle of operation. The meter hand 23! continues to be driven under the action of the meter as water passes through the softener, and when the hand again makes contact with the button 232 regeneration of the softener will again be initiated. A manually operated switch 264 permits initiation of thecycle at will.

This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 138,948, filed April 26, 1937, entitled Automatic softener valve.

The foregoing description is given for the purpose of disclosing the invention in such manner as to permit the same to be practiced by others, and the specific forms disclose preferred manners for practicing the invention.v I am aware that numerous alterations may be made therein within the spirit of the invention,and I do not wish to be limited except as required by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims, in which I claim:

1. The combination in a zeolite water treatment apparatus having a softener tank, a brine tank, piping connecting said tanks having a service water inlet, a soft water outlet, and an outlet to waste, said piping also having a multiple port lift turn valve for controlling the flow therethrough during service and regeneration phases of a cycle of operations, of a meter mechanism meter driven switch operating means, switch comprising a meter, a rotatable member driven pinion for independent rotation of said member,

in areverse direction with respect to the meter,

and power operated cam means for actuating said Y rack and pinion during said regeneration phase to reset said meter to a preselected starting point. 1

2: The combination in a zeolite water softener having a water inlet conduit for supplying water thereto of a meter mechanism operative in the control of regeneration of said softener comprising a meter in said inlet conduit, a dial associated therewith having graduations for indicating the passage of liquid through the meter, a plurality of electrical circuits having contacts, means spaced annularly of the dial for securing said contacts at selected points, a handmovable' over said dial in one direction by said meter when water flows to said softener positioned to act as an indicating hand against said dial and as a wiper for closing said circuits through said contacts, a rack and pinion positioned to, move said hand in a reverse direction to reset said hand, and means for actuating the rack and pinion in a direction to reverse said hand and reset the same. s

3. The combination in a water treatment apparatus of a water treatment tank, a container for regeneration reagent, conduits for confining the flow therethrough through regeneration and service cycles, including conduits for hard water, soft water, brine and waste, a multiple port lift turn control valve for controlling the flow therethrough, a motor for operating said control valve means, a valve disposed in the brine line for controlling the flow of brine to said tank, a brine valve motor for operating said brine valve, circuit means including said motors, a meter disposed in the hard water line to said tank having means operated by the said meter driven means for closing the circuit to said control valve inotor upon the passage of a predetermined amount of water therethrough to start regeneration and move said control valve to a back-wash position, a

means operated upon movement of said control valve for resetting said meter driven means to an initial starting position, switch means operated by said meter driven means after a further movement thereof for closing the circuit to said control valve motor to move said control valve to a brine position, means for closing the circuit to said brine valve motor during the last mentioned movement of said control valve to open the brine valve, means for closing the circuit to said brine valve motor upon movement of the brine level to a predetermined lower level to close the brine valve, switch means operated by said meter driven means after a further movement thereof for closing the circuit to said control valve motor to move said control valve to a close the brine valve when the level of the liquid insaidreagent container reachesra predetermined upper level m 13w:

w 4. The combination in a water-softener having: a softener tank, a brine tank, andmeansrfor confining the flow of water, and of brine,: of a brine valve for controlling, the flow, of liquid to and from the brine, tank a brinevalve motor for driving said brine' valve, a multi-porlt liftturn valve-movable through a regeneration cycle, a motor for driving I said muIti-port valve, a: pluj means including a switch in one of said circuits to energize said brine valve motor to open the brine valve for the passage to brine to the softener tank, float means in the brine tank in cluding a switch in one of said circuits for energizing said brine valve motor to close said brine valve at a predetermined level in the brine tank, means including a switch in one of said circuits for predetermining a rinse period subsequent to the closing of said brine valve and for energizing said multi-port valve motor at the termination thereof to move the multi-port valve to a service position, and means including switch means in one of said circuits for energizing said brine valve motor to open said brine valve during the 1 movement of the multi-port valve to said service position to supply water to the brine tank, said fioat means being arranged to actuate the last mentioned switch means to re-energize the brine free injection water, switch means on said meter and inrsaid circuit means for energizing said softener valve motor'uponthe passage of a me? determined amount of injection ,water to move the valve to a serviceposition, andswitch means in said circuit means for energizing s'aid brine valve motor to open said brine valveduring the movement ofthe valve to saidservice position to supply waterto the brinewtank, said float means valve motor at a predetermined upper level in the brine tank to close said brine valve.

5'. The combination in a water softener having a softener tank, a brine tank, and conduit means forconfining the flow of water and of brine through said tanks, of a brine valve for controlling the flow of liquid to and from the brine tank, a brine valve motor for operating the same, i a multi-port lift turn softener valve movable through a regeneration cycle, a motorfor operating said softener valve, and means tocontrol the softener valve motor to intermittently operate the softener valve through the steps of regeneration comprising ameter for measuring the water supplied to the softener having meter driven switch operating means, circuit means including said motor, switch means in said circuit means operative by said meterdriven means to energize the softener valve motor to start the regeneration cycle and move the softener valve to a back-wash position, means for resetting said meter driven means, switch means on the meter connectedto said circuit means for energizing the softener valve motor upon the passage of a predetermined quantity of back-wash Water to move the valve to a brinepositiomswitch means in said circuit means to energize said brine valvemotor to open said brine valve for the injection of brine through i the softener valve into the softener tank, float means in the brine tank having a switch in said circuit means for energizing the said brine valve motor to close said brine valve at a predetermined level in the brine tank to terminatethe flow of brine and rinse the softener tank with the brine,

being arranged to actuate the last mentioned switch means to re-eriergizethe brine valve motor at a predetermined upper level in the brine tank tQCIOSB th eSamGw 1 t 6. The combination in a water softener having a softener tank, a brine tank, and conduit means for confining the flow of water and of brine through said tanks, of a brine valve for controlling the flow of liquid to and from the brine tank, a brine valve motor for operating said brine valve, float means in the brine tankincluding a circuit and switch means for energizing said brine valve motor to close said brine valve at predee termined levels of, liquid in the tank, a softener valve having a multi-ported body member, a ported rotor member rotatable to different opera- -tive positions relative to the body member, and

a stem extending fromthe rotor for unseating, turning and reseating the same, a reversible motor, means operated by the motor operative on said stem to unseat saidrotor when the motor,

rotates in one direction and reseat the rotor upon rotationin the opposite direction, a circuit for said motor, meansdriven by the motor for rotating the stem and rotor while the rotor is unseated, switch means in said circuit for reversing the motor in the unseated and seated positions of the rotor, sWitch means-in said cir-- cuit associated with said stem for energizing said motor comprising a plurality of stationary contact segments and a plurality ofbrushes operating thereagainstfor controllingoperation of l the said brine valve motor and for energizing said motor through a greater portion of the initial part of its travel, and switch means in said circuit opened and closed in response to seating and unseating of said rotor for energizing the motor during the remainderofits travel.

7. The combination in a zeolite, water softening apparatus, of a softener tank, a regeneration reagent tank, piping connecting said tanks having a service water inlet, a soft water outlet, and an outletto waste, said piping also having a multiple port lift turn valve for controlling the water flowing during service and during the regeneration cycle thereof, motor means for operating said valve, a meter in the inlet. conduit, and electrical circuits and switches connecting the meter and said motor for controlling the operation of the motor to drivethe valve through a regeneration cycle.

8. The combinationin a zeolite water treatment apparatus having an electrically operated lift turn multiple port valve for directing the, flows of water'during service and the regenerati-on cycle thereof, of a meter mechanism for controlling said valve means comprising a water meter, a rotatable member driven by said meter in responseto the passage of water therethrough, electrical means periodically energized by said rotatable member for actuatingsaid valve in a service and a regeneration cycle, and means for, reversing said rotatable member to reset the same i with respect to said meter atthestart of each] regeneration.

9. In an automatic water softener, a water softener tank, a brine supply, amultiple jport valve having a base with multiple ports therein and having pipes attached thereto, said pipes connecting said base, respectively, to a water supply, to the top and to the bottom of said softener tank, to service, to said brine supply and to drain, a multiple port lift turn valve member arranged whe seated in its difierent positions on said base to direct a flow-of water from said water supply pipe through said softener tank to service and said member in its other positions on said base arrangedto direct a flow of water to backwash the material in said softener tank and to direct a flow of brineand wash water through said tank to drain, a cover attached to said base,

'a stem extending from said member through said cover, a motor attached to said multiple port valve and means driven by said motor cooperating with means attached to said stem for lifting, turning and reseating said member from one to another of its positions on said base, a water meter connected in said pipe from said water supply and electrical means between said meterand said motor for starting said motor when predetermined amounts of water have passed through said meter, to lift, turn, and reseat said member from one position on said base to another and means for stopping said motor.

LEE G. DANIELS, V 

